Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Assemblyman Sean Ryan, and representatives from the labor community gathered in support of the more than 200 employees who are set to lose their jobs when New Era shuts down its Derby plant in March.

The company announced last month it was considering the facility shutting down.

Last week, New Era formally submitted its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) documentation to the state Department of Labor, informing them of the closure, which will happen by March 29.

"They intend to ravage the entire economy in the Town of Evans. This is nothing but a money grab," said WNY Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO President Richard Lipsitz. "We're talking to them about being good corporate citizens, and we do not see that with this proposed move."

Ryan and Poloncarz said they have each met with New Era's leadership about changing their minds.

"Unfortunately, we were told that's not gonna happen," Poloncarz said.

Poloncarz hasn't given up, though, and says the county is willing to discuss several avenues to keep the plant open including tax incentives.

“There are no tax breaks currently on the Derby facility, and I said, we’re willing to discuss a continuation or a creation of new tax breaks if that’s what it takes," Poloncarz said.

Conversely, New Era does have tax breaks from Erie County on its downtown Buffalo headquarters, but Poloncarz said the county can't compel New Era to give any money back.